The mansion city was vast and prosperous, with a wide variety of houses to choose from—nothing was lacking.
Whenever Shu Rui and Lu Ling had free time, they went to view properties. By early June, they had looked at no fewer than twenty houses.
Of these, only about ten were truly worth considering. After several rounds of careful inspection, they finally narrowed it down to two homes they were satisfied with.
One was on Heyang Alley in the heart of the city. This residence had formerly belonged to an old imperial scholar. Being centrally located, it offered convenient access to anywhere in the city.
The house featured two small courtyards and a total of eight or nine rooms. The main house, side rooms, living room, kitchen, and livestock pens were all complete. The rooms were a bit small, but they had been maintained with care, giving a refined and tasteful impression rather than seeming cramped.
When they asked the price, it came to 380 strings of coins. Houses in this area sold easily; the old scholar was not in a rush to sell, so he did not entertain haggling, leaving it available for the right buyer.
The other house was in the southern district, on Qingshui Alley, which ran across the main street of Shili Street. The alley was lined with large residences.
This house had three courtyards and a total of fifteen rooms. Its front garden could accommodate a stage and seating for more than ten tables for guests.
It was much larger than the Heyang Alley property, yet the asking price was lower: 320 strings of coins initially, with room for negotiation.
Comparing the two, Heyang Alley had the better location. Most residents there were prominent, well-connected families, officials, and gentry. Many buyers looking to forge social ties preferred this area, which drove prices up.
The southern district, by contrast, was not as affluent or lively as the western and northern districts. There were more modest households and land was cheaper. Thus, even large homes there were priced lower than smaller homes elsewhere.
Shu Rui calculated that given the current size of the Lu household, at least a two-courtyard residence was necessary. One courtyard could accommodate him and Lu Ling; Lu Father and Madam Liu could occupy the other. If space was tight, Lu Yu could share with them, but he was older, so ideally he would have his own courtyard.
However, Lu Father’s assignment at Chaoxi Mansion was only for five years, and future postings were uncertain. Lu Yu might not stay in Chaoxi Mansion permanently either. In other words, they could make do if needed.
They viewed houses ranging from three courtyards down to two, and these two properties were ultimately the most suitable.
Everything matched their requirements, except the prices exceeded their initial expectations. Their original plan of 200 strings of coins could only buy a smaller, one-courtyard house.
After several viewings, Shu Rui asked Lu Ling, “Which one do you prefer?”
“I’m fine with either; I’ll follow your decision,” Lu Ling replied.
Shu Rui huffed—he knew asking Lu Ling wasn’t likely to produce a decisive answer; it seemed he was just passing the responsibility along, which only gave him more trouble. He lay on the couch, feeling that arranging these matters was not easier than running a business.
Lu Ling sat beside him and gently pinched him. Shu Rui felt limp, almost boneless, clearly struggling with indecision. Lu Ling finally said, “For the convenience of our family, the Heyang Alley house is better. Father’s office is a minute’s walk away, and Lu Yu’s school is nearby. Most residents there are gentry, fitting their status and social circles.”
Shu Rui glanced at Lu Ling. He had been thinking the same way, but Lu Ling hadn’t spoken much, just seemed lazy. “And what about Qingshui Alley?” he asked.
“That house is larger. Our family would have plenty of space, even if we have children in the future. Lu Yu could stay at home without needing another residence. It’s also closer to our shop, convenient for managing business, and the price is lower.”
“Looking closely, one property benefits the family, the other benefits us,” Shu Rui thought, his ears reddening. He hadn’t even married yet, and was already planning for children.
Feigning indifference, he said, “So, how shall we decide?”
Lu Ling looked at him. “Since we’re funding the purchase and will live there long-term, it makes sense to choose the one that benefits us more.”
Shu Rui pressed his lips together, exhausted from viewing houses all day. Sitting up on the couch, he nudged Lu Ling with his foot: “You clearly have a preference but aren’t saying it, just letting me get flustered. Tonight, don’t even think of sharing a bed with me.”
“Don’t!” Lu Ling grabbed Shu Rui’s foot, rubbing it in a coaxing gesture. “I only wanted to follow your preference. You’ll make the big decisions now and in the future. I offered my opinion so it wouldn’t conflict with yours.”
Shu Rui withdrew his foot and sat cross-legged. “I do like the southern district house—it’s a good price. But recently, Uncle asked if we’d seen the Heyang Alley house. He probably favors it more. If he knows I chose the southern house over Heyang, he might feel hurt.”
Being thorough and considerate, Shu Rui was always careful in dealing with the Lu family. If he were reckless or selfish, tensions would inevitably arise over time, even if unspoken.
Lu Ling leaned in, wrapping Shu Rui close. The boy had lost his parents young and had no siblings for support. Having grown up as a dependent in others’ households, he was used to thinking things through carefully. Others admired him for this, but Shu Rui felt for him.
“It’s my fault—I didn’t consider everything for you. Alright, I’ll make the decision. The southern district house is better for managing business, and we don’t have enough for Heyang Alley anyway. If anyone asks, just say so.”
Shu Rui smiled and kissed Lu Ling’s cheek. “Then it’s settled. The southern district house it is.”
His eyes sparkled. “I’ll try to haggle a little more—maybe knock off a few strings of coins. Even saving ten or twenty strings means we can afford some decent furnishings.”
Just as Lu Ling leaned in for another kiss, they heard Qing’s voice calling from outside, saying a shop clerk wanted him to settle some business.
Shu Rui, embarrassed thinking about how clingy they had been in the house all day, blushed and drove Lu Ling to the shop. He made sure Lu Ling tidied his clothes before letting him go.
After a while, Shu Rui opened the door with his abacus and ledger, appearing as if he had just been discussing business matters seriously.
“Going out for a bit, Lu brother? You two really are close,” Qing joked.
Shu Rui maintained a stern face but teased him anyway: “We were balancing accounts.”
Qing blinked. “I didn’t say you weren’t.”
Shu Rui laughed and gave Qing a playful pinch. “It’s not all Chunhua’s influence. Recently, Lawyer Meng often comes to the inn, even though his office is several streets away. I don’t know why he insists on coming this far.”
Hearing this, Qing busied himself for a moment, though it was unclear what he was doing. “Opening the door for business—what’s wrong with having a regular customer?”
Shu Rui found his demeanor endearing. “I’m happy to have business.”
They chatted and laughed a while. The next day, Shu Rui went to negotiate with the owner of the Qingshui Alley house. After three rounds, he finally settled on 280 strings of coins.
Once he obtained the deed, he didn’t have time to fret over money—he still had to furnish the house. Most of the previous owner’s furniture was taken away, and what remained was sold at a secondhand shop, recouping some funds.
Luckily, Shu Rui had already gained experience selecting woodwork. He purchased some ready-made pieces and commissioned Tong the carpenter to custom-make others. Fully buying from the woodwork shops would have cost 100–200 strings; custom orders alone would have taken too long. Tong also introduced him to reliable carpenters to handle the extra work, saving money. In total, about 80 strings were spent furnishing the house, which was respectable.
This endeavor exhausted both Shu Rui and Lu Ling’s earnings from the shop, and even required dipping into their savings.
Shu Rui secretly felt grateful that Lu Ling’s savings provided a safety net—otherwise, it would have been troublesome.
By mid-June, the weather was sweltering, and the house matters were mostly settled.
The storage shop had just hired a bookkeeper. Shu Rui thought that by early September, after marrying Lu Ling, they would live in the house, no longer staying at the inn.
Two rooms at the inn could then be vacated. The smaller room would be opened up into one space; the larger room would remain as is and locked, available for emergencies.
Additionally, a small room needed to be partitioned in the inn for a resident clerk to manage the shop.
Shu Rui thought it would be best if Lu Ling found someone trained in martial arts. Many martial artists looked down on working in inns or restaurants, but mostly it was due to low wages, not inability.